Page 63 - Walking_The_Red_Road

More knowledge is needed about Aboriginal culture in general.
Across many of the responses to questions, we noted that participants weren’t aware or wanted to know more about Aboriginal culture. Educating young people in schools and community education were suggested as important ways to increase cultural knowledge in general. Partnering with schools, supporting youth leadership, anti-stigma and cultural awareness campaigns, and promoting healthy living were suggested as approaches that could be used.
2. Cultural safety training is essential to providing responsive and safe services for Aboriginal community members.
We also need increased opportunities for Aboriginal community members to participate in organizations and service delivery as students, staff, service providers, volunteers, board members, to help build cultural competency and maximize human resource capacity. Creating ongoing opportunities for Aboriginal and non- aboriginal service providers to meet regularly and talk together will promote information sharing and problem solving to address gaps and issues.
Mental health counselling knowledge and skills are
uneven across services—some know more about Aboriginal approaches; some know more about mainstream approaches.
Some participants identified the need for increased mental health knowledge in Aboriginal services, while others identified gaps in knowledge and understanding when
it comes to Aboriginal culture. “Almost half of my clients are now from James Bay communities and most are young moms,” said one service provider. Despite the number of Aboriginal community members seeking services, several participants commented: “If a client isn’t forthright at intake about being Aboriginal, it might go unseen.” One said that using the term “Aboriginal” posed a number
of challenges: many clients simply do not answer the question on intake forms. Another gave the example of a client saying: “What is Aboriginal? I am Inuk.”
Training to build cultural competency and cultural safety is needed.
Many participants referred to the need for “increased
training” for all service providers regarding Aboriginal
knowledge, history, traditions and practices including
the medicine wheel. This would increase understanding
regarding the ongoing legacy of colonization (residential schools, impact on communities, etc.) contributing to longstanding mistrust and present day challenges.
For many youth, mental health is “living a good life.”
Youth participants told us that feeling good and being happy, family and friends, life choices and identity, respect for others, staying healthy and active, and traditional teachings all play a role in living a good life.
How can you respectfully explore culture during intake?
Ask, “Who do you want to take with you on this journey?”
Participant
Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT
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We talk about making intake procedures more culturally relevant and sensitive, but what about fostering an environment where Aboriginal people are so proud that they identify!
Participant